Richard M. Nixon (R)
(1969-1974)

Although during these years, the United States was engaged in a war against Viet Nam, under Nixon’s presidential term the efforts to further tighten the blockade on Cuba did not stop. Every potential business transaction of commodities having components with Cuban nickel was persecuted.
With regards to Cuba, Nixon’s presidency was characterized by an increase in hostility, raids, terrorism and countless plots to assassinate Cuban president Fidel Castro.

The consolidation of the Cuban economy and Cuba’s development of economic and trade relations with other geographic regions led to the adoption of several steps towards the end of the Nixon’s Administration that, without reducing the impact of the blockade or promoting its repeal, adjusted albeit temporarily the economic war against the island.

1969

04.02.69 The Department of the Treasury’s OFAC issued a Note expressing that it had reasons to believe that the nickel powder produced in the Soviet Union could be wholly or partially made with Cuban-origin nickel. It was announced that as of 5 February 1969, and under the provisions of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, imports of nickel powder directly or indirectly shipped from the USSR would be held in Customs until decided otherwise by OFAC. (FR, 4 Feb. 1969).

02.10.69 The Treasury Department’s OFAC issued a note expressing that it had reasons to believe that the nickel sulphate produced in the USSR could be wholly or partially made or derived from Cuban-origin nickel. . It was announced that as of 3 October 1969, and under the provisions of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, imports of nickel powder directly or indirectly shipped from the USSR would be held in Customs until decided otherwise by OFAC. (FR, 3 Oct. 1969).

07.11.69 OFAC announced that it had reasons to believe that items with nickel components and materials produced in Czechoslovakia could be wholly or partially made or derived from Cuban-origin nickel. It was announced that as of 7 November 1969, and under the provisions of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, imports of nickel materials directly or indirectly shipped from the Czechoslovakia would be held in Customs until decided otherwise by OFAC. (FR, 7 Nov. 1969).

1970

18/03/1970 Ricardo Alarcon, Cuban representative to the United Nations denied U.S. claims before the Commission on Human Rights.

1971

24/02/1971 A Cuban four fishing boats and their crews were boarded in international waters and taken to Key West.

09/06/1971 The Court trying the four Cuban fishermen found them guilty of fishing in U.S. territorial waters and sentenced them to six-month terms and paying a $10,000 fine. The Cuban revolutionary government made the decision to take to court the crew of two American fishing boats that violated Cuban territorial waters and illegally entered our coasts.

12/10/1971 A group of mercenaries coming from the north aboard a go-fast strafed Boca de Sama village, in Banes, eastern Cuba, killing 2 people and injuring four others.
14.10.71 An amendment to the Sugar Act (85 Stat. 381) cut the Cuban quota down to 23.74% of the total quota.
1972

13/01/1972 Cuba held the CIA and the U.S. government for the terrorist acts against the Cuban personnel and properties in the Cuban Mission to the United Nations in New York. On the 19 January, the Cuban representative to the U.N. once again denounced another series of attacks against the Cuban Permanent Mission to the U.N.

15/10/1972 Eleven Cuban fishermen, kidnapped some before in waters nearby the Bahamas, returned to Cuba. Their fishing boats were sunk by counterrevolutionaries. This action took place south of Andros Island.

1973

01/05/1973 While wrapping-up a mass rally held at Jose Marti Revolution Square, President Fidel Castro said that Cuba will not negotiate with the United States as long as the blockade exists.

1974

10.07.74, 07.08.74 & 14.08.74 Amendment to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, adding an interpretation to the provision prohibiting American citizen to engage in the trade of goods and services abroad, unless duly authorized by a license; an interpretation excluding heirs from the authorization to charge personal expenses to a block account was added; addition of an interpretation on license granting for American-owned companies abroad, specifying that it did not apply to American citizens who were officers or directors of such companies abroad; license issuance was provided, following the submission of satisfactory evidence that the goods to be imported had left Cuba before 8 July 1963; specific licenses were provided, under certain circumstances, in the case of Cuban-origin goods sent as gifts to American citizens, and the import of Cuban-origin books, films and tapes.
The issuance of specific licenses for the import of samples for research was also provided; as well as for the payment for overflights of Cuban territory and emergency landing; it included issuing specific licenses to unblock non-Cuban citizens who were in Cuba on 8 July 1968 or thereafter (but not at this moment), to unblock up to 50% worth of dollar accounts representing the interests of surviving spouses; to unblock part of insurance credits, under certain conditions; to pay official representatives of foreign governments in Cuba; to unblock assets of Cuban companies totally- or partially-owned by American citizens; to authorize payment of US$100 allowance charged to blocked accounts of Cuban residing outside Cuba; to pay for Cuban societies when its members left Cuba for the United States or any other authorized territory; to unblock accounts which are exclusive properties of Cuban citizens when the owner has left Cuba for the United States or any other authorized territory. (39 FR 25317; 25318; 25319; Sec. 515.410-515.414; 515.543; 515.545-558; July 10, 1974; 39 FR 28434; Sec. 515.544; August 7, 1974 y 39 FR 29182; 29l83z Sec. 515.545; 515.552; 515.556; August 14, 1974).